I was only reminded of this recently, but i think this story says a lot:

We were on a family holiday, joking around in the pool, and out of nowhere Alf managed to create a game called 'Gay Zombies'. The exact premise of this game - if there even was one - i can't remember, but i do remember that kept it us entertained for a full afternoon. Complete with sound effects, mincing, and limp wrists, it's hard to tell who was more amused by this, Alf or the kids?!

In any case, only Alf's mind would have had the wit and creativity to create such a (nonsensical) game. And for this, and the many other times he was a great dad to me over the last 20+ years, i'm always grateful to have known Alf. Not only was Alf a true gent, but as the example above shows, he never lost his humour and lust for life. Even in hospital he still managed to find a plastic fake hand to attach to his bedside phone!

I'm so, so sad that there will not be any more laughs to share with Alf, but the stories he has left behind speak to a life lived to the fullest. And what's more, the happiness he bought to many other people's lives, and the memories he created with them, are enough to fill one, two, or even three, ordinary men's lives. But as i think everyone will agree, Alf was Alf, and in the best way possible, he was far from ordinary....

Matt